How to fix a dripping tap in Melbourne (and when to call a plumber)
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You've heard it for days. That steady, rhythmic drip from a tap you've been meaning to fix. Maybe you already tried — replaced the washer, tightened everything you could find — and it's still dripping. Or maybe you haven't touched it yet because you're not quite sure what you're dealing with and don't want to make it worse.
Either way, you're not alone. A dripping tap is the most common household plumbing problem in Australia, and it's also one of the most misunderstood — because there isn't one type of dripping tap. There are three, and the fix for each is completely different.
Here is what that misidentification costs: a homeowner who replaces a washer on a ceramic disc tap will fix nothing. A homeowner who buys a replacement cartridge for a compression tap won't find one that fits. The generic advice floating around online — just replace the washer — applies to one tap type and ignores the other two. It leaves a lot of Melbourne households with a tap that's still dripping after they've already tried.
The drip itself isn't just an irritant. A tap losing one drop per second wastes more than 10,000 litres of water a year. Melbourne's water storages closed 2025 at 11.2% below the previous year, and a dripping tap in every second home adds up to a number that matters to the city's supply.
And if you have tried and it's still dripping? That doesn't mean you failed. It almost certainly means you fixed the wrong component — because you had the wrong diagnosis. This guide gives you the right one.
The four most common causes of a dripping tap in Melbourne homes:
Most Melbourne homes built after the mid-1990s have quarter-turn ceramic disc taps or mixer taps — not traditional compression washers. If you replaced a washer and the tap is still dripping, this is almost certainly why.
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From On Time Plumbing — field observation The most common tap failure we see across Melbourne is a cracked ceramic disc in bathroom mixer taps — particularly in homes in Melbourne's northern suburbs, where mains water pressure regularly exceeds 500kPa. Under that pressure, ceramic discs fail faster than their rated lifespan. A washer won't fix it. The disc needs replacing, which requires identifying the correct cartridge and sourcing it from a trade supplier. |
Before the how-to steps, there is one more number worth knowing.
A dripping tap wastes between 30 and 200 litres of water per day, depending on the drip rate. A tap dripping once per second loses more than 10,000 litres over a year. That is roughly the volume of a small above-ground pool, going down the drain, from one tap.
In Melbourne, that number has weight right now. According to Melbourne Water's Annual Water Outlook, the city's storages ended 2025 at 11.2% below the same point the previous year. Permanent Water Saving Rules are already in force across Victoria — and further restrictions remain possible if the current storage trajectory continues through 2026.
At 200 litres per day, a single dripping tap adds approximately $120-$180 to an annual water bill at current Melbourne tariff rates. That number sits beside the cost of fixing it: between nothing for a washer replacement, and $150-$300 for a licensed plumber, depending on tap type and complexity. On those numbers, even a professional repair pays for itself within a year.
Now — let's fix it. Start by identifying your tap type, then go directly to the section that matches.
A compression tap is a traditional two-handle tap — one for hot, one for cold — that you turn multiple rotations to open and close. If your bathroom or kitchen has separate hot and cold taps that you screw open, this section is for you.
What you'll need:
Locate the isolation valve under the sink — a small valve on the pipe below the tap. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If there's no isolation valve, turn off the mains at the water meter. Open the dripping tap to release remaining pressure.
Look for a screw under the decorative cap on top of the handle — pry the cap off with a flat-head screwdriver, then remove the screw. Lift the handle off. A gentle rocking motion dislodges tight handles without forcing.
Use your spanner to unscrew the large hexagonal packing nut below where the handle sat. Once removed, lift out the headgear — the internal valve assembly. The washer sits at the bottom, held by a small brass screw.
Remove the old washer and compare it to your replacement — same diameter and thickness. Fit the new washer and secure it with the brass screw. Replace the O-ring around the headgear stem. A damaged O-ring causes leaking around the tap body, not the spout.
The seat is the metal ring that the washer presses against. If it feels rough or uneven, it has worn and will continue to cause drips even with a new washer. A seat dressing tool ($15 at a hardware store) resurfaces it. A licensed plumber can replace the seat entirely.
Reverse the disassembly: headgear in, packing nut tightened snugly but not overtightened, handle reattached, cap replaced. Turn the isolation valve back on slowly and check for leaks around the tap body and from the spout.
Still dripping after all that? The seat is almost certainly damaged, or you have a ceramic disc tap that resembles a compression tap externally. See the ceramic disc section below, or call On Time Plumbing for a diagnosis.
A mixer tap has a single spout and one handle controlling both temperature and flow. There are no washers inside. The internal component is a cartridge — a self-contained valve unit. When the cartridge wears out, the spout drips.
What you'll need:
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Warning Cartridges are brand and model-specific. A Caroma mixer takes a different cartridge than a Methven or a Dorf. Do not order a replacement online before removing the old one. Take the old cartridge to a plumbing trade supplies counter — not a hardware store — and match it physically. |
Use the isolation valve under the sink or the mains at the meter. Open the tap to release pressure and confirm the supply is off.
Pry off the decorative cap on the top or front of the handle — underneath is a Phillips screw. Remove it, then lift or pull the handle straight off the cartridge stem.
Unscrew the large retaining nut or collar holding the cartridge in place — anti-clockwise with your spanner. Set it aside.
The cartridge lifts or pulls straight out. Note the orientation before removing — the tabs must align correctly on reinstallation. Take a photo before removing it.
Apply a small amount of plumber's grease to the O-rings on the new cartridge. Insert it in the same orientation as the old one — tabs aligned with the slots in the tap body. Press it firmly home.
Replace the retaining nut, reattach the handle, turn the water back on slowly, and test. The tap should now turn fully off without dripping from the spout.
Still dripping? The tap body itself may be damaged — a crack or chip in the internal seating surface prevents a full seal regardless of the cartridge. A licensed plumber can assess this in a few minutes.
A ceramic disc tap is a quarter-turn tap — the handle moves 90 degrees from fully closed to fully open. Inside, two precision-machined ceramic discs press against each other to control water flow. When one cracks — often from Melbourne's high mains pressure — the seal fails and the tap drips.
What you'll need:
Isolation valve under the sink or mains at the meter. Open the tap to release pressure.
Pry off the index button (the hot/cold indicator on top of the handle) — underneath is a screw. Remove it and lift the handle off.
Below the handle, there is often a chrome shroud that unscrews by hand. Once removed, unscrew the retaining nut holding the disc cartridge in place.
Lift the cartridge out carefully. Note the orientation — the locating lugs must align on reinstallation. Take a photo. Inspect the seat inside the tap body: mineral deposits or debris here can cause dripping even after a cartridge replacement. Wipe clean, or use diluted white vinegar on stubborn limescale.
Hold it up to the light and look for cracks in the ceramic disc surface — they are sometimes hairline. A cracked disc cannot be resurfaced; the cartridge must be replaced. Discs that appear intact but worn flat at the sealing surface also need replacing.
Insert the new cartridge with the locating lugs correctly aligned. Replace the retaining nut — finger-tight, then one quarter-turn with a spanner. Do not overtighten: ceramic discs can crack under excess torque. Replace the cap, handle, and index button. Turn the water on slowly and test.
If the tap still drips after cartridge replacement, either the seat has damaged surfaces or the tap body itself has cracked. Neither is a DIY repair — a licensed plumber will assess whether repair or full replacement is the right call.
And that brings us to the question the repair guides can't always answer.
Repair is almost always the better first option — a replacement cartridge or washer costs $5-$30, and if the fix works, you're done. But there are specific situations where repair is not worth attempting.
Consider also when replacing: a WELS-rated 4-star tap uses 50% less water than an old unrated model — a replacement may qualify for a water efficiency rebate through your water retailer. Ask your licensed plumber about current rebate programs.
Replace the tap when:
Your licensed plumber can assess this at the time of the repair visit. If they recommend replacement, ask them to show you the specific component that makes repair unviable — any reputable tradesperson will walk you through it.
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Job |
Typical Melbourne rate (incl. GST, parts & labour) |
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Standard tap washer replacement |
$150–$220 |
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Mixer tap cartridge replacement |
$180–$280 |
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Ceramic disc cartridge replacement |
$180–$280 |
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About these rates Rates shown are typical Melbourne market ranges for standard residential jobs with straightforward access, all-inclusive of GST, parts, and labour. Actual pricing varies between operators. Always request a written quote before authorising any work. |
Reputable Melbourne plumbers offering fixed-rate tap repairs will include all costs upfront — no call-out fee added on top during business hours, no parts surcharge at invoice time. For a complete Melbourne plumbing pricing guide covering all job types and after-hours rates, see our 2026 plumber cost guide.
On Time Plumbing offers fixed-rate tap repairs with same-day availability. No call-out fee during business hours. Fixed price confirmed before we start.
Book a same-day tap repair or Call us today on 1300 110 428.
Knowing when a dripping tap is beyond DIY is itself a skilled judgement — and making it correctly is not admitting defeat. It's avoiding a repair that creates a bigger problem.
In Victoria, the Plumbing Regulations 2018 require that all plumbing work on pressurised supply systems be carried out by a licensed plumber registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC). In practice:
If your repair involves turning off the mains, opening the tap body, and replacing an internal component — that is generally allowable DIY work. If the repair has turned into a job involving disconnecting the tap from the supply pipe, stop and call a licensed plumber.
You can verify any plumber's licence at bpc.vic.gov.au before you book.
You now know what type of tap you have and what's causing it to drip. You have the step-by-step repair for your tap type — or the honest assessment that this one needs a licensed tradesperson. That is a genuinely different position from where most people start when they search for this.
The fix that didn't work last time wasn't a failure. It was the wrong solution for the wrong tap type — the most common reason DIY tap repairs fail. With the right diagnosis, most dripping taps in Melbourne homes are fixable in under an hour.
And for the ones that aren't — the damaged seat, the cracked tap body, the unavailable cartridge — calling a licensed tradesperson is the correct engineering decision, not a personal one.
Three likely reasons. First: you have a ceramic disc tap or mixer tap — washers don't exist in those designs. Second: the tap seat is damaged and needs resurfacing or replacing. Third: the O-ring around the spindle is worn and is causing the leak at a different point than you think. The diagnosis guide above walks you through identifying which applies to your tap.
Between 30 and 200 litres per day, depending on the drip rate. A tap dripping once per second wastes over 10,000 litres per year. At current Melbourne water tariff rates, that adds approximately $120-$180 to your annual water bill.
For most standard tap types — compression washers and cartridge replacements in existing taps — yes. Victorian regulations permit homeowners to replace internal tap components without a licensed plumber, as long as the work doesn't involve pipe connections or full tap replacement. The step-by-step guides above cover the three most common tap types found in Melbourne homes.
Parts-only DIY cost is $2-$80, depending on tap type and cartridge. Licensed plumber rates in Melbourne for a dripping tap repair typically range from $150 to $280 all-inclusive — parts, labour, and GST — for standard jobs with straightforward access. Always confirm the all-inclusive price with any operator before they start work.
Not immediately dangerous in the way a burst pipe is. But the compounding effects are significant: 10,000+ litres wasted per year, real cost on your water bill, and — in the case of a hot tap — ongoing energy consumption. A ceramic disc failure caused by high water pressure can also worsen over time as the crack widens and the flow rate increases.
Same-day availability across Melbourne. Written quote before we start. All work by VBA-licensed plumbers.
Book a tap repair or Call us today on 1300 110 428.
Disclaimer: DIY plumbing work carries risk. Instructions in this guide cover standard tap washer and cartridge replacements under Victorian plumbing regulations. If you are uncertain at any step, stop and contact a licensed plumber. On Time Plumbing is not responsible for damage resulting from DIY work carried out without appropriate skill or in contravention of Victorian plumbing regulations. Pricing ranges reflect typical Melbourne market rates as at June 2026 and are subject to change — always confirm current pricing with your chosen operator.
